Comments | lindmere: A Tide Taken at the Flood (Pike, PG-13) 3/3

lindmere

A Tide Taken at the Flood (Pike, PG-13) 3/3

Oct 08, 2009 20:03

Author's Note: When I first got the idea to write about Pike, I assumed that the nerve of an able-bodied person writing about disability could be mitigated by appeals to The Future or to canon. Unfortunately, other than the fact that he's in a wheelchair at Kirk's ceremony, the movie gave us nothing about Pike's condition. The movie script mentions ( Read more... )

star trek fic, gen

Comments 86

northatlantic October 10 2009, 18:45:53 UTC

This was really powerful, and the characterization was brilliant. A lot of fic with Pike is so focused on his relationship with Jim Kirk and at one remove with George Kirk and the Kelvin that we don't learn as much as I would like about the man himself. This fills that gap beautifully. I love it.

lindmere October 11 2009, 01:02:51 UTC

Coming from you, that's a tremendous compliment. Wow, gen R hard--nothing to hide behind.

Pike is an interesting case of someone who got very close to living their dream and then just missed--kind of like Olympic favorites who fall at the starting line, or finish 3rd when they were supposed to finish 1st. It's a genuine test of character and it's interesting to wonder how they deal wit it. Fortunately, I think Starfleet captains are highly accomplished, well-rounded individuals; if there's anyone you want to throw a challenge at, it's them.

ratcreature October 10 2009, 19:18:50 UTC

I liked this look at Pike.

lindmere October 11 2009, 01:03:39 UTC

And I love your art! I'm sitting here with two foster Himi girls next to me and my four big, PEW boys out playing in the other room. I'd never thought of Vulcan rats, hmm...

jaylee_g October 10 2009, 19:25:19 UTC

I'm at a bit of a loss for words to adequately describe all this story encompasses, but as inadequate as the following adjective may be I'll start with the word brilliant and hope that conveys a fraction of the depth of my appreciation.

What a wonderful, fabulous piece you have here. I love the movement of it, the subtlety, the psychology. Everything was spot on and I found myself nodding emphatically numerous times throughout the story.

Your sense of observation, and character insight was truly remarkable. I don't think I've ever read a more apt description of Kirk's almost sixth sense when it comes to command than this:

“Lieutenant Kirk is impulsive, undisciplined, and inexperienced,” he says, with the tiniest bit of satisfaction. “He also possesses what humans refer to as instinct, but we call tvi-ozhika -- literally, internal logic, a command of reasoning so perfect that one need no longer go through any conscious mental process.

OMG, yes! That is definitely our Kirk, both Reboot and TOS ( ... )

lindmere October 11 2009, 01:08:54 UTC

Your comments were absolutely lovely--thank you so much!

I have to think the reason Starfleet wants Kirk in command is to save their bacon, because otherwise he's a hugely risky choice. How's he going to do at diplomatic conferences, or quadrotriticale runs? But obviously post-movie, the galaxy has changed quite a bit. As McCoy said in the original movie script, "This kid doesn't know how to lose!"

damietta October 10 2009, 20:39:59 UTC

Lindmere, this was truly a beautiful piece of writing.

I have been aching for a great gen fic and this was like a gift.

Several previous commentors have noted exceptional passages (the scene under the oak tree with the old-fashioned commission papers was tremendous as was the scene in the infirmary with Dr. McCoy).

I liked how you fashioned all the characters and didn't make them one note (Pike=handicapped; Kirk=implusive; Spock=logical), but infused them with many, many traits and depth.

I didn't want the story to end, but when it did, it ended with great hope.

Thank you!!

lindmere October 11 2009, 01:14:47 UTC

Thanks so much! This was pretty much "hardcore" gen--no angst, no AU, no pre-anything, kind of tough to write. Spock, in particular, scares the crap out of me. Spock Prime had a rather arch sense of humor, but nu!Spock is full of layers--he can be frank and blunt when he needs to, but he can also be brutally sarcastic.

I'm glad you liked the ending. In my mind, Pike doesn't get the surgery, or at least not for some time; I'm happy that you found that a hopeful ending.

garryowen October 10 2009, 22:06:04 UTC

lindmere October 11 2009, 01:16:52 UTC

Thank you for both your comments! I think Kirk has that basic decency of a lot of people who've been kicked around in their lives. I liked the idea of him being respectful to Pike without making a fuss, and Pike being observant enough to notice. I'm so glad you enjoyed it and took the time to respond.